Month: November 2016

A very great deal of people are quite put off by cockroaches. They tend to evoke repulsion in a way that Spiders and Snakes sometimes do suggesting that humans may have a hardwired response built in. Cockroaches spread germs and we maybe genetically trained to be repulsed. Sadly though our natural fear is naively for all cockroaches when only about 4 species have really evolved to associate with humans. There are over 4600 species of cockroach currently described almost all of which are harmless. Cockroaches occupy many different habitats and they began their evolution away from termites in the Devonian, about 150 million years before Dinosaurs. Maybe we should actually give them a bit more respect then no? Like as in respect your elders. Also think about this: 4 out of 4600 species of cockroach are invasive or troublesome but for the Great Apes it is 1 (guess who!) out of 7, a much greater proportion.

Here are some pics I took recently of a Burrowing Cockroach which I believe is a member of the Blaberidae, or the Giant Cockroaches. When I handled him he was very powerful and could wedge or push under my hands in the same way that a mole cricket and other burrowing things can. Here are some pics:

What an amazingly great rock climbing class we had over the course of the past three days. Taught by the superb rock guides extraordinaire, Julian Wright and Tom Gregory from African Ascents. The class was focused on top roping instruction for our guides and assistant guides. By pioneering new roots Julian and Tom got the team to guide the rest of us like we were guests up and down rock after rock. Lots of great fun and lots of great laughs.

This is a new species of snake that we recently found on Tumaren. It is a Desert Black-headed Snake (Micrelaps vaillanti or so we think. Exciting to find new species after all these years hiking this bush.

We have just learned that we have won Best Walking Safari in Africa from the Safari Awards.

Best Walking Safari in Africa 2017

It has always been a great privilege to receive recognition for our safaris but to be honoured with Best Walking Safari in Africa is a distinction we could only ever dream of. We are a small and humble company but it is a great feeling to know that our ethos of providing authentic, old fashioned adventure has paid off. All of our staff from our head guides to the rangers that patrol our conservation are over the moon to know that they have been part of this success. Thank you Safari Awards for this opportunity.